April 4, 2017, Muea, Fako State, Southern Ambazonia, Cameroonian Occupation Forces carried out a violent operation that resulted in the abduction, injury, torture, and killing of 14 innocent and unarmed civilians, including women and children. This brutal assault targeted defenseless individuals who posed no threat and had no connection to the ongoing conflict.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror as soldiers descended upon the community, forcibly removing people from their homes and subjecting them to inhumane treatment. Women and children, some of the most vulnerable members of society, were not spared from the violence, further illustrating the indiscriminate nature of the attack. Those who survived the initial onslaught were subjected to severe torture before being executed, leaving behind a trail of trauma and grief for their families and the community at large.

The attack shattered the peace in Muea, as families mourned the loss of their loved ones and the survivors grappled with physical and psychological scars. The violence inflicted by the occupation forces created an atmosphere of fear, with residents feeling powerless in the face of such unchecked brutality.

Women and children, who are supposed to be afforded special protections under international law, became victims of heinous acts that left the community devastated. The loss of innocent lives, coupled with the physical and emotional suffering of the survivors, highlights the ongoing atrocities committed in Southern Ambazonia.

This tragedy has drawn condemnation from observers and human rights organizations, who have called for accountability and justice for the victims.
The actions of the Cameroonian forces in Muea constitute War Crimes under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

Specifically, they violate Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, torture, and cruel treatment of civilians.

The principle of distinction, a cornerstone of the laws of armed conflict, requires that parties to a conflict differentiate between combatants and civilians, affording civilians protection from intentional harm. By targeting and killing unarmed civilians, including women and children, the forces breached this principle and committed acts that amount to grave violations of international law. Additionally, the Convention Against

Torture explicitly prohibits torture under any circumstances, making the treatment of these individuals a clear violation of international standards. The systematic nature of these crimes underscores the need for international intervention and justice for the victims.

AMBAZONIA CRISIS